Fire-alarm.



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PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

W. J. RANDOLPH. PIRE ALARM.

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WALTER J. RANDOLPH, Olf EMINEXGE, MISSOURI.

FIRE A11-ARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed May 4, 1906. Serial No. 315,207-

To all 'whom it may concern:

le it known that I, ALTER J. H xNnoLrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eminence, in the count-y of Shannon and State of .\lissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- AIarms, of which the following is a specilication.

The objecty of this invention is to provide an im` proved tire alarm mechanism which is so constructed as to automatically sound both a central and a. local alarm should a lire break out in any part of the building.

The invention also has for its object to provide an alarm mechanism of this character which is entirely reliable in its operation, being so designed as to lie entirely dependent upon the action of weights which are normally held in a raised position by means of the tension in cords of a combustible vnature which are strung around the ceiling and llues in such a manner as to be readily severed in case of tire.

.For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a sectional view showing the application of the device; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the local alarm mechanism; Fig. 3 a face view of the central alarm mechanism, the front of the casing being removed; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the central alarm mechanism; and, Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the manner in which the turning of the reel operates to ring the bell.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In general the device consists essentially of a central alarm mechanism which is operated by a weight, and a series of local alarms which are also operated by Weights, the Weights being normally held in a raised position by the tension in connecting cord members.

The numeral 1 designates the casing of the central alarm mechanism, the said casing being adapted to be secured to the wall in any suitable position. lhis casing 1 is provided with a vertical partition 2 between which and one of the sides a rcel 3 is journaled. One end of the shaft upon which the reel is mounted extends through the side of the casing 1 and terminates in a knob or finger piece 4, while the opposite end extends throagh the verticalpartition 2 and is provided with a crank arm 5. A cable 6 is coiled about the reel 5 and has its free end secured to a weight 7 in such a manner that a descent of the weight will unwind the cable and thus turn the reel.

It will be l which is located below the reel 3 and connects the said partition to a side of the casing. immediately above the rcel 3 there is located a roel-ting plate 9 which is pivotally mounted between the sides of the casing. The outer arm of the rocking plate t) is pro vided with a pawl 1() which is adapted to engage with a ratchet wheel l1 upon the reel 3 in such a manner as to prevent the reel from turning under the inflitence of the weight 7. This pawl l() may be convenientl y formed by securing a strip of metal to the roeking plate t) and bending one of the ends thereof downwardly. Immediately below the rcel 3 there is located an oscillating member 12 which is pivoted between the sides of the casing and which is provided with any conventional type of bell 13. An arm l extends upwardly from the oscillating member 12 and engages with the crank s3 in such a manner to cause the member l2 to Vvibrate and ring the bell 13 when the reel 3 is turned. This arm 14 is preferably formed with a slot within which the crank 5 operates and in `the present instance is shown as formed by bending a piece of wire back upon itself so as to form two spaced arms, the ends of which are secured to the oscillating member 12. The inner or free end of the rocking plate t) is normally in a raised position so that when a weight. is imposed thereon, it is lowered and thereby lifts the outer end so as to throw the pawl lO out of engagement with the ratchet 11. V

The top 15 of the casing 1 is formed with a series of perfomtions 16 through which a number of flexible cord members 17 are passed. The inner ends of the cord members 17 are connected to weights 19 which are 1ocated within the casing 1 and are normally held against the top 15 by means of the tension in the cords. Should one of the cords be in any manner broken or severed, the weight 18 which is attached to its inner end will be dropped upon the free end of the rocking plate 9 and the paw] bearing end of the rocking plate will thus be thrown out of engagement with the ratchet 11 and the reel 3 thus permitted to turn under the infiuence of the weight 7 and ring the bell 13. In order to cause the weights 18 to always strike against the free end of the rocking plate 9, an inclined partition 19 is provided which serves as a guide and in the present instance deflccts the weights toward the rear of the casing.

The cords 17 are strung over the ceiling and mound the fines and other dangerous places in such a manner as to form a net work, the said cords beingr held in position by passing them through guide members such as screw eyes 20 through which they are adapted toslide freely. The opposite ends of 'the cords 17 are wound around the reels 21 of the local alarm mechanisms and have their extremities provided with weights 22. The

observed that. the lower end of the vertical partition l reels 21 are mounted between the two arms of an vapproximately U-shaped trame 23 and are provided at one end with the cranks 24. One of the arms of the U- shaped frame 23 is extended and the oscillating,r member 25 to which the bell is attached pivoted thereto. These oscillating members 25 are provided with arms` similar to' the arms 14 which engage with the cranks 24. In this manner it will be apparent *hat when the reels 21 are turned, the members 25 will be caused to vibrate and ring the bell. These trames 23 are located in various parts et the building and are preferably secured to the ceiling by ine-.ms ot the cross bar connecting,r the two arms.

Should `one of the cords 17 be broken or severed by tire or other means, the weight 22 to which it is attached will be released so as to sound the local alarm. and the weight 18 to which it is attached will be dropped upon the rocking plate 9 so as to sound the central alarm as has been described. In the practical construction oi the alarm, the Weights 22 are made somewhat heavier than the weights lSso as to hold the latter in a. raised position against the top l5 of the casing and also to take up any variations in the lengt-h of the cord due to moisture in the atmosphere.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as. new is:

1. lnia device of the character described, the combinaA tion of separate alarm mechanisms. a weight for operating each of thev alarm mechanisms. and a cord connecting the .said weights z-.nd designed to be severed to release the same and permit of the operation of the alarm mechar: isms. one of the weights overbalancing the opposite weight wherebyV the two are normally held in an inoperative position.

5.. ln a 4device of the class described. an alarm mechanism embodying operatinglr weights, means for supportinur said weights and operable to release the latter whereby the same may arluale the alarm mechanism, :l rocking plate pivoted between its ends. an alarm device. means normally'connecting one end of the rocking: plate with the alarm-device to prevent operation of the latter. and means embodying a deiiecting partition for direetin.r the weight above mentioned against the other end of the rock ing lever-.to throw the latter out of cooperation with the alarm device and permit of operation of the said device.

Il. In a device of the class described. the combination of a casingjan alarm device disposed therein and embodying: a lever having an attached bell, a reel having.: a crank connection with said lever t0 oscillate the latter, weight means eonneeted with the reel to actuate the same and operate the bell. a rocking.;` plate pivoted between lts ends in the easing and normally operatively connected with the reel to prevent movement of the latter, a weight adapted to fall upon an end ot' the roeking'plate to clTect release of the reel. supportingr means for the last' luentioued wei-:ht operable to drop the same, and a partition in the casio;r arranged to detlect the :fallingr weight to cause the latter' to strike the rockin.;r level and ett'ect actuation of the latter.

4. ln a device of the character described, the combinaA tion of a support. a reel jonrnaled in the support. a crank carried by the reel, an oscillatingr member mounted upon the support. a soundingr device operated by the oscillating member, a slotted member carried by the oscillatingr member and formed by doubliu"y a length of wire upon itself. the said slotted member havin: an operative connection with the crank arm, and means for turningr the reel to sound the alarm.

5. in a device ot" the character described, the combination of a support in the nature of a U-shaped bracket, one of the arms of which is extended, a reel mounted between the two arms ot the bracket, a crank carried by the reel. an oscillating.: member mounted upon the extended arm of the support. a sounding.: device `,perated by the oscillating member. means carried by the oscillating member for prmluein;v an operative connection with the crank. and means for operatingr the reel to sound the alarm.

l. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support, a reel journaled within the support, means for turning;r the reel, a soundingr device. means whereby the sounding device is operated by the reel, a ratchet carried b v the reel. a rocking lever mounted upon the support. a pawl cari ed by one arm of the rocking lever and en; 4in1.: the ratchet, a weight, and means for suppertiu':r the weight over the opposite arm of the rocking lever. A

'i'. In a device of the character described, thccombination of a support, a reel journaled within the support, a weighted cord operating.; the reel, a crank carried by the reel, an oscillating member. a soundingV device operated by the oscillating member. a slotted member carried by the oscillating.r member and having an operative. connection with the crank, a ratchet carried by the reel, a rockiae: lever mounted over the reel, a paw! ca ied by one arm of the rockin;r lever and designed to engage the ratchet. and a weight normally suspended over the opposite arm of the rockin;r lever and designed to disengage the pawl from the ratchet when alloved to drop upon the said rocking lever.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence ot two witnesses. i

'ALTER J. RANDOLPH. [L.S.]

Witnesses: N. Massari-ILD, F. .\I. CItrnToN. 

